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Programs Earn Dining Awards

Submitted by Julie Huisingh on Thu, 1999-07-22 11:43

The food service programs at Calvin College and Hope College have each received recognition in the 26th annual Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards Contest of the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS).

The award recipients were honored at the association's 41st national conference, held in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday-Saturday, July 6-10. The food service programs at both Calvin and Hope are operated by Creative Dining Services. Based in Zeeland, Creative Dining Services began in 1990 with the two colleges as the company's primary accounts. The company has since expanded to have 26 clients in four states. Calvin received the grand prize in the "Catering Special Event" category, as well as first place among "medium schools" in the same category. The award honored the luncheons presented during Calvin's "January Series," an annual lecture series that presents a variety of speakers each year. During its January 7-27 run this year, the series featured speakers ranging from Dr. James Billington, the librarian of Congress, to author and storyteller Garrison Keillor. The entry packet for Calvin's program was prepared by Tim England, who is executive chef at Calvin, and Jane Holland, who is catering manager. Hope received third place among "small" schools in two categories: in "Residence Hall Dining Special Event/Theme Dinner" for "The 1999 Pepsi Hockey Challenge" held in the Phelps Hall cafeteria on Tuesday, Feb. 9; and in "Cash Sales Special Event" for "The 50's, 60's & 70's Karaoke Night Buffet" held in the Kletz Snack Bar on Thursday, March 4. Both events at Hope were new, and featured menus and activities in keeping with their themes. Selected contest winners in the "Hockey Challenge" were treated to a Griffins hockey game in Grand Rapids on Friday, Feb. 12. The third place that Hope received in the "Cash Sales Special Event" category was the highest honor received in the category by a "small" school. The entry packet concerning the "Hockey Challenge" was prepared by Tim Blackburn, who was service manager in Phelps Hall during 1998-99 and is now catering manager at Hope. The "Karaoke Night Buffet" materials were prepared by Sharon Phillips, who is retail manager at the Kletz. A total of 158 entries were submitted to this year's competition, which named 49 award winners. Open to all institutional members of NACUFS, the contest features seven categories: "Residence Hall Dining-- Standard Menu," "Residence Hall Dining--Special Event/Theme Dinner," "Cash Sales--Standard Menu," "Cash Sales--Special Event," "Catering--Standard Menu," "Catering--Special Event" and "Specialty Restaurant or 'Shop.'" Competing schools are considered in three divisions based on size--small, medium or large--with prizes for first place, second place and third place awarded within each division. A single grand prize winner is also named for each of the seven categories. The contest was designed to promote creativity and sound nutrition in the areas of food presentation, menu variety and merchandising. The event is named for Loyal E. Horton, a former NACUFS president and founding member of the association. NACUFS is a trade association for campus dining departments at institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and abroad. NACUFS is devoted to promoting the highest quality of food service, and supports its institutional and industry members with education, training, technical assistance, information, scholarships and research.